Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2025
Magnetic Levitation Coupled with Portable Imaging and Analysis for Disease Diagnostics
Published on: February 19, 2017
Peripheral Blood Smear: Hematologist Buddy to Catch Dangerous Budding: A Report of Two Cases
Neha Garg1, Rashmi Jain Gupta1, Alka Siroha2
1Department of Clinical Pathology, Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Abstract:
The incidence of nosocomial infections has been reported as 12%-18% in various studies from India, with bloodstream infections amounting 15%. Fungal pathogens have become a major cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections. Detection of fungemia by blood culture often requires 2 or 3 days of incubation. Few studies have reported the detection of Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis) by review of routinely stained blood smears, often days earlier than diagnosis being possible by culture. These can be seen as round-oval extracellular as well as intracellular budding yeast organisms which show pink-magenta staining with periodic acid Schiff stain. We report here the detection of Candida spp. in the peripheral blood smear.
Insights
Nosocomial bloodstream infections caused by fungi are a growing concern. Detecting fungemia via peripheral blood smear review can provide earlier diagnosis than traditional blood cultures, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Pathology
Background:
- Nosocomial infections affect 12%-18% of patients in India, with bloodstream infections comprising 15%.
- Fungal pathogens are increasingly implicated in nosocomial bloodstream infections.
- Current blood culture methods for detecting fungemia require 2-3 days for incubation and diagnosis.
Observation:
- Routine peripheral blood smear review can detect fungal elements.
- Candida species appear as round-oval extracellular or intracellular budding yeast.
- Periodic acid-Schiff staining aids in visualizing these yeast forms (pink-magenta coloration).
Findings:
- This study reports the successful detection of Candida species in peripheral blood smears.
- Microscopic examination of stained blood smears offers an alternative diagnostic method.
- Detection via blood smear can potentially precede results from blood cultures.
Implications:
- Earlier detection of fungemia can lead to prompt initiation of antifungal therapy.
- Peripheral blood smear review presents a potentially faster and accessible diagnostic tool for fungemia.
- This method may improve patient management and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with invasive fungal infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiovascular System Abnormal Findings I: Inspection and Palpation
Abnormal findings observed during an inspection
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...